President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced that more than 126 million Nigerians have been enrolled in the National Identity Database, marking a major milestone in the country’s push toward digital inclusion and secure identity infrastructure.
Speaking at the 2025 National Day of Identity celebration held in Abuja on Tuesday, the President — represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume — also revealed that the capacity of the National Identity Management System has been expanded from 100 million to 250 million records to ensure universal coverage.
Themed “Public Key Infrastructure: Backbone to Digital Public Infrastructure,” the event highlighted the growing importance of the National Identification Number (NIN) as a driver of inclusion, access, and transparency in Nigeria’s public and private sectors.
“This is not just a number. It represents 126 million stories of visibility and empowerment,” President Tinubu stated. “Workers can now claim pensions without fear of fraud, students can access loans with ease, and vulnerable groups can benefit from humanitarian support.”
He emphasized that the NIN is a foundation for dignity and access for every Nigerian and that his administration remains committed to strengthening the country’s identity ecosystem.
According to Tinubu, the Federal Government has established over 200 NIN enrolment centres abroad and conducted special registration drives targeting refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and correctional facility inmates.
In a push for inclusive digital identity, the government has also trained more than 5,000 enrolment agents to better serve persons with disabilities, in line with a new disability inclusion policy.
The President commended the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for clearing over 2.5 million backlog records and rolling out mobile and web self-service platforms, which have already processed over 500,000 updates.
More than 800 mobile enrolment devices have also been deployed across the country to facilitate real-time access in remote and underserved areas.
President Tinubu revealed that the NIN system is now integrated with 125 government agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service (for passports), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) (for tax identification), the National Population Commission (for birth registration) and the National Health Insurance Authority (for healthcare access).
“This harmonisation reduces duplication, saves costs, improves service delivery, and strengthens national security,” he said.
He also lauded the ongoing NIN-SIM integration, enforced in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), for reducing identity-based fraud.
Addressing the role of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Tinubu noted that secure digital identity is impossible without a trusted authentication framework.
“PKI provides the secure foundation for our digital economy. It ensures every Nigerian’s identity is trusted across platforms, attracting investment and enabling global engagement,” he said.
President Tinubu praised NIMC Director-General/CEO Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote for transforming the agency in just over a year through discipline, innovation, and vision.
“Under her stewardship, the NIN has truly become the foundation of our nation’s digital transformation. She represents the spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Tinubu said.
Coker-Odusote shared that over 449,000 students have benefited from NIN-powered loans worth ₦86.35 billion since May 2024, the NIN system enabled distribution of 30,000 metric tonnes of subsidised rice under agricultural programs and digital ID has improved financial inclusion for women and vulnerable populations.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo emphasized that secure identity is central to modern governance, adding that PKI underpins all efforts toward safe, open, and interoperable digital public infrastructure.
He cited ongoing reforms such as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Technology Innovation Complex (BATTIC), which now hosts a Command and Control Centre, a biometric production facility and a data centre for passport services and border control.
